Breathing device



June 1960 J. P. FAY

BREATHING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllll mm INVENTOR. James f 1 a June 7, 1960 FAY 2,939,457

BREATHING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly, 4

INVbINTOR.

James I? Pay ATTORNEYS United States BREATHING DEVICE James P. Fay, 18 France St., Norwalk, Conn. Filed June 19, 1958, Ser. No. 743,148 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-142 This invention relates to a novel breathing system which is particularly useful in underwater swimming.

Heretofore, devices of 'this type have embodied an open system, i.e.,' a system wherein the diaphragm of the regulator means is exposed to the surrounding medium.

This has produced serious diificulties in that it causes inadvertent operation of the control valves of the regulator due to the variations in the head of the surrounding medi-, um applying pressure on the diaphragm. This results in inadvertent bleeding of air from the supply means. Also,

since the diaphragm is exposed tothe surrounding medium,

particularly in the water, foreignlmatter, sand or the like carried by the water can move into contact with the diaphragm and damage the same. Further, such open systems produce variations in the breathing conditions for diflerent attitudes of the swimmer since the changing head of water will affect the operation of the control means for supplying the air to the swimmer.

,It is an object of the present invention to overcome desired balance..' In this way there is eliminated breathing discomfort due to pressure diflerential as between inhalation and exhalation irrespective of the users swim-.

mingrattit ude under water, while also precluding the: bleeding out and escape of air from the supplydue to apressure diiferential on the diaphragm caused bythe variations in the pressure thereon by the surrounding medium.

If desired, the exhaust valve means may be spaced from the regulator and disposed-relative to the users body. in a locality adjacent tothe human diaphragm. In this way, underwater breathing to fill the lungs is made relatively eflortless and comfortable for the swimmer, because of the inhaling pressure and the exhaling pressure being rendered substantially equal at the reference level of the human diaphragm irrespective of the 'swimmers attitude under water.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the .flexible diaphragm which divides the regulator easing into an inhalation pressure chamber is maintained out of contact withthe surrounding fluid medium and in a dry condition and is well protected against damage as might occur from contact with the surrounding medium or contact with solid particles or sand that may become embedded in and produce pin holes'or other damage to the diaphragm. a

Other features and'advantages of the invention-will be apparent from; thenspecification and claims when consideredin connection with the accompanying drawings in-whichzg.

-:-Figure'l is a top viewof the breathing apparatus of atent 2339,45? Patented June 7, 1960 2 this invention including the high pressure tank and the regulator unit with connections, with the parts positioned in the manner in which theyare carried by the user.

' Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus taken on line 2-2-of Fig.1. n

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view of V the regulator, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the disposition of the diaphragm-controlled valve actuating mechanism as embodied in one form of the invention.

Fig; 4 is a schematic diagram of the closed system.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the device carried by the user with the exhaust valve located adjacent the users diaphragm. V I

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the regulator according to this invention comprises a casing 10 divided by a diaphragm 11 to constitute an inhalation chamber 12 at one side of the diaphragm and an exhalation chamber 13 at the opposite side of the diaphragm as is customary in demand regulators.

Preferably, the casing 10 comprises a main casing shell.

. 14 having a flange 14a and a complementary casing shell 15 .formed with aflange 15a. The diaphragm 11 which may be formed of flexible impervious material, such as rubber or the like elastomeric material, is marginally interposed between the flanges of easing shells and secured in airtight relationship therewith by means of a swedge designated 1.

ring 16 tightly encompassing and crimped around the flanges and the peripheral portion of the diaphragm interposed therebetween. The inhalation chamber has mounted in it the control valve mechanism collectively While any control valve mechanism suitable for demand regulators may beused, in the illustrated form of the invention the control valve mechanism I has a valve housing V mounted in the casing 14 containing the various control valves therein with valve actuating mechanism responsive to the movements of the diaphragm.

.The regulator is detachably connected in a usual manner to the neck N of a tank 17 forming a supply of compressed breathable gas or air under high pressure by means of a usual clamping shackle 18 screwed onto a nipple -,19 ,fixed to the regulator casing by being screwed tightly into the valve housing V therein. A clamping screw, 20 holds the shackle 18 in tight connection with neck N ,of the tank to provide the connection for high pressure, gas from the tank to the valve housing through the nipple and through the hand-operated valve 21 on.

theneck..- a

According to this invention, both the inhalation chamber and the exhalation chamber are connected to a mouthpiece P through flexible hose connections 22 and 23. respectively, the exhalation chamber being moreover provided with a one-way exhaust valve 24 provided at the. end of a flexible exhaust conduit 25 leading from the exhalation chamber. In this way, there is establishedin the breathing apparatus of this invention a closed balanced pressure system having a single contact with the pressure of the surrounding fluid medium through the normally closed exhalation valve 24 and in which system the inhalation pressure prevailing inthe inhalation chamber is'balanced against the exhalation pressure in the V exhalation chamber, both pressures acting upon their respective sides of. the diaphragm. This will maintain theoperation of the device constant in all attitudes of the user and also .will prevent inadvertent bleeding of: the supply. Since the regulator is out of contact with the surrounding medium, the diaphragm will be protected against damage as may occur from sand or the like carried by the surrounding medium. With this balanced pressure a more sensitive regulator can be used and, further, the exhaust valve may be placed at any distance from the regulator proper'without affecting the operative relationship with the shaft.

normal operationof the device. Because of this I have found it desirable to locate the exhaust valve in-a localityadjacent to the human diaphragm as illustrated at H in Fig. 5. In this way, the mechanism will maintain a balance between the'inhalation ;pressure andi theexhala-i tion pressure at a value corresponding tothezpressure'of the surrounding fluid medium onthe body-in' the areaof the'human diaphragmso thatama'ximum ofibr'eathing comfort may be afforded to the user which is unchanged irrespective of his swimming attitude under-water.

As shown in Fig; 3, the controlwalve-mechanism has mounted in the valve-housingV thereof a primary con-" gaging and operating the respective'control valve means by depressing their respective actuating pins in response to pressure variations in the inhalation chamber 12 and the-concurrent movements of 'the diaphragm, admitting" air from the tank' into the inhalationchamber 12 vide the required pressure therein.

The two swingable valve actuators 26 and 27 have their outer ends pivotally connected at 26b and 27b to a pair of actuating links or plates 28 and'29' respectively. The links or plates are pivotally interconnected as by a hinge connection 30, and they are in turn fastened to the" diaphragm '11- so that a ridge R is formed therebetween which is adapted to rise and fall within the limits allowed for by reserve mechanism M as the included angle A between the plate varies" in response to pressure varia-' tion in the inhalation chamber.

In the illustrated form of the invention the reserve mechanism M is located in the exhalation chamber and comprises a shaft 31 journaled in the wall of the complementary shell in airtight relationship therewith. A stop member 32 extends from the diaphragm in corecessed abutment face 33 normally positioned in the manner shown to face away from the stop'member 32 so that the movement of the diaphragm is normally limited by the stop member engaging theshaft at it's' periphery during the normal operation of the primary" viding normal reserve pressure in the inhalation chamber, after the normal supply through the primary control valve will have ceased.

Flushing of the inhalation chamber 12 and of the iiihalation tube 22 and mouthpiece P maybe effected at will by rotating the shaft 31 of the reserve rechanism so that a flush finger F extending radially from the shaft will engage and depress the diaphragm against the normal breathing pressure and actuate the valve means to admit flushing air into the'chamber 12.

The operationof the system according to this invention is well illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 4 illustrates the breathing cycle particularly with respect to showing how theinhalation pressure and the exhalation pressure are balanced one against the other,

The shaft has j a with the diaphragm itself kept dry between the two operating chambers 12 and 13 and thus sealed within the closed system against the surrounding medium when submerged.

The operation of the breathing cycle illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises inhaling air from chamber 12 through check valve V (see arrow W with the concurrent slight pressure drop in that chamber causing the diaphragm 11 to move the valve actuator 26 to actuate the primary valve actuating pin to admit the air needed to maintain the normal breathing pressure in this chamber. This movement ofthe diaphragm is aided by the pressure in the exhaust chamber caused by the exhaust flap valve 24, when collapsing, reducing the volume of the gas trapped in the exhalation chamber with both the check valve V and the exhaust valve 24 remaining closed.

Next, when exhaling through the mouthpiece (see arrow W against a pressure determined by the location of theexhaust valve'24 relative to the regulator and relative to the person of the user (as exemplified in Fig. '5), the corresponding exhaling pressure will act upon the diaphragm 1'1 depressing the same to admit air through the'concurrent' operation of the control valve mechanism I until the pressure in that chamber equals theex-ha'lation pressure at the opposite side of the diaphragm.- The diaphragm thereby recedes again towards the exhalation chamber stopping further inflow of air into the inhalation chamber at the point when equilibrium is substantially attained as between the pressures acting upon the respective sides of the diaphragm;

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I" claim:

1. A-- regulator for breathable gases'comprisinga pair of shells closed by diaphragm means to constitute an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber respectively, saiddiaphragm means being adapted to move in response to a differential between inhalation'pressure and exhalation" pressure in the respective chambers, said inhalation chamber having an inhaling connection leading therefrom to a mouthpiece and a supply connection leading thereto from a source of gas under pressure, control valve-means with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation-chamber and controlled by the movement of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into-said inhalation chamberuntil the pressures in said chambers are substantially equal, and exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communicating with said ex halation chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valvemeans adapted to discharge spent gas into the surrounding medium.

2. A regulator for breathable gases, comprising a casing, azmovable diaphragm dividing'the easing into an inhalationchamber and an exhalation chamber sealed against'each other and against thesurrounding medium,

said inhalation chamber having an inhaling connection leading therefrom to a mouthpiece and a supply connectionleading thereto from a source of gas under pressure,

control valvemeans with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation chamber and controlled by the move-- ment of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into said inhalation chamber until the operating pressure in the inhalation chamber and the pressure in the exhalation chamber. are substantially equal, and exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communicating with said exhalation'chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valve means adapted to discharge spent gas into the surrounding-medium.

3. A regulator for breathable gases, comprising-a casing, a movable diaphragm dividing the-casing into an leading therefrom to a'mouthpiece. and a supply connection leading thereto from a source of gas under pressure, control valve means with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation chamber and controlled by the movement of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into said inhalation chamber until the operating pressure in the inhalation chamber is substantially equal to the pressure in the exhalation chamber and exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communicating with said exhalation chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valve means adapted to discharge spent gas into the surrounding medium, said exhaling conduit means comprising a first conduit portion between the mouth piece to the exhalation chamber and a second conduit portion between said chamber and said exhaust valve means.

-4. A regulator for breathable gases, comprising a casing, a movable diaphragm dividing the casing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber sealed against each other and against the surrounding medium, sid inhalation chamber having an inhaling connection leading therefrom to a mouthpiece and a supply connection leading thereto, from a source of gas under pressure, control valve means with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation chamber and controlled by the movement of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into said inhalation chamber until the operating pressure in the inhalation chamber is substantially equal to the pressure in the exhalation chamber and exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communicating with said exhalation chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valve means adapted to discharge spent gas into the surrounding medium, and reserve mechanism and high pressure flushing means provided in said exhalation chamber.

5. A regulator for breathable gases comprising a casing, a movable diaphragm dividing the casing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber sealed against each other and against the surrounding medium, said inhalation chamber having an inhaling connection leading therefrom to a mouthpiece and a supply connection leading thereto from aportable container holding the gas under pressure and having the regulator associated therewith, control valve means with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation chamber and controlled by the movement of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into said inhalation chamber until the operating pressure in the inhalation chamber is substantially equal to the pressure in the exhalation chamber and exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communicating with said exhalation chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valve means adapted to discharge spent gas into the surrounding medium, and means for placing the exhaust valve means relative to the users body to be located adjacent to the human diaphragm.

6. A regulator for breathable gases, comprising a casing, a movable diaphragm dividing the casing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber sealed against each other and against the surrounding medium, said inhalation chamber having an inhaling connection leading therefrom to a mouthpiece and a supply connection leading thereto, from a portable container holding the gas under pressure to be carried on the users back and having the regulator associated therewith, control valve means with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation chamber and controlled by the movement of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into said inhalation chamber until the operating pressure in the inhalation chamber is substantially equal to the pressure in the exhalation chamber and exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communicating with said exhalation chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valve means adapted to discharge spent gas into the surrounding medium, and means for fastening the exhaust valve means to said container and spaced from said regulator.

7. A regulator for breathable gases, comprising a casing, a movable diaphragm dividing the easing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber sealed against each other and against the surrounding medium, said inhalation chamber having an inhaling connection leading therefrom to a mouthpiece and a supply connection leading thereto, from a portable container holding the gas under pressure to be carried on the users back and having the regulator associated therewith at the top thereof, control valve means with actuating mechanism disposed in the inhalation chamber and controlled by the -movement of the diaphragm to admit breathable gas from said source into said inhalation chamber until the operating pressure in the inhalation chamber is substantially equal to the pressure in the exhalation chamber, exhaling conduit means from said mouthpiece communieating with said exhalation chamber and provided with a one-way exhaust valve means adapted to discharge spent air into the surrounding medium, and means for fastening the exhaust valve means to the container spaced from said regulator as well as relative to the users body adjacent to the human diaphragm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,757,680 Fay Aug. 7, 1956 

